Coupler gauge



Oct. 15, 1929. A. M. BAUMAN COUPLER GAUGE Filed Dec. 1927 abtowwu Patented Oct. 15, 1929 more stares COUPLER, GAUGE Application filed December 8', 192?.

This invention has reference to a combined coupler contour gauge and coupler height gauge, the primary object of the invention being to provide a gauge which may be employed in determining the height of a coupler when the car to which the coupler is secured, is loaded, or unloaded so that the coupler may be adjusted to meet the requirements of law.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby lost motion in acoupler head due to wear may be determined, prior to placing the car equipped with the coupler, in use.

An important object of the invention 1s to provide a gauge of this character which is collapsible and one which will be accurately used to accomplish its purpose.

With the foregoing and other objects ln view which will appear as the descriptlon proceeds, the invention resides 1n the comb1- nation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the 1nvention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a gauge constructed in accordance with the invention showing the same in its folded position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showlng the gauge assembled for use.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 14 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4:.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the vertical measuring bar.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 5 designates the body portion of the gauge which is formed preferably of a length of heavy sheet metal, the same having its side Ele'rial No. 238,131.

edges bent upwardly defining lateral flanges 6 and 7 respectively, the end portions of the flanges being bent into engagement with each other as shown by Figure 8 where they are riveted in such position by means of the rivets 8.

Ears 9 extend upwardly from the flanges 6 and 7 and are formed with openings to receive the rivets 10 that extend across the body portion for purposes to be hereinafter more 69 fully described.

Secured to the body portion 5 at a point intermediate the ends thereof, is a socket member 11 which has a slot formed in one wall thereof to receive the rib 12 of the vertical gauge bar 13 so that when the gauge bar is positioned in the socket member, the rib, lying within the slot, will hold the vertical gauge bar 13 in an upright position.

As clearly shown by Figure 4, the walls of the socket member 11 are formed with openings, one of the openings being threaded to receive the threaded extension 14 of the bolt 15 formed with a knurledhead 16, whereby the bolt may be readily and easily removed or replaced. Registering with the openings in the socket member is an opening formed in the vertical gauge bar 13 so that when the bolt 15 is positioned, it will pass through the registering openings of the socket member 11 and 89 gauge bar 13 so that the gauge bar will be secured in position. v

An opening 17 is. formed in the bolt 15 and is designed to accommodate a cotter key or the like to insure against the bolt becoming accidentally displaced. Formed on the vertical gauge bar 13 are graduations 18 opposite which certain indicating characters and numbers are formed so that when the vertical gauge bar is positioned, in front of a coupler, 90 the vertical play of the coupler caused by wear may be determined and should the wear be too great to insure safety, the coupler may be readily repaired.

It will be seen that the indicating char acters and numbers are arranged in groups so that the gauge may be employed in connection with standard gauge rails, or rails of various sizes. Secured to the vertical gauge bar 13 by means of the chain 19, is a gauge 20 which is of a length to closely fit within the space between the coupler knuckle and knuckle guard, and it will be obvious that by positioning this member 20 between the 5 knuckle and knuckle guard, lateral play caused by wear of the knuckle or its supporting pin may be determined in examining the knuckle.

This gauge bar 13 is substantially narrow and is formed with bayonet slots 21 to accommodate the rivets 10 when the gauge bar is positioned over the body portion in its folded condition, whereupon the gauge bar is held or locked in position.

15 From the foregoing it will be seen that due to this construction I have provided a gauge of a construction which may be readily and easilycarried from place to place and readily set up for use in gauging couplers to determine whether or not the couplers are rendered inoperative by the wear.

I claim: 1 v 1. In a gauge of the class described, an elongated body portion adapted to rest on the rails of a railway track, a socket member having a vertical slot formed in one wall thereof, agauge bar fitted in the socket member and having a lateral vertical rib fitted in the'slot to restrict movement of the gauge bar, and means extending through the socket member and'gauge bar for securing the gauge ba'r within the socket member.

2'. In a gauge of the class described a body portion formed of a length of sheet metal having its side edges bent upwardly defining lateral flanges, rivets connecting the flanges,

a socket member on the body portion, a gauge bar adapted to be fitted in the socket member, one edge of the gauge bar having bayonet slots, said gauge bar adapted to be removed from the socket member and positioned longitudinally of the body portion between the flanges, and said bayonet slots adapted to receive the rivets when the gauge bar is in its inactive position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

- ALFRED'M. BAUMAN. 

